THE COMM6N HORSE. 



In the Statistical Account of Scotland there is 

 an anecdote,, which affords additional proof ol 

 the great strength and hardiness of these ani- 

 mals, A countryman, some years ago, was em- 

 ployed by the Laird of Coll, as a post to Glasgow 

 or Edinburgh; and his usual burthen was about 

 sixteen stone. Being once stopped at a toll-gate, 

 near Dumbarton, he humorously enquired whether 

 he should pay the toll if he carried a burthen 

 through the gate; and on being answered in the 

 negative, he immediately dismounted and bore his 

 Horse through on his shoulders. This breed is 

 said to be now nearly extinct in Scotland, which is 

 much to be regretted; for if a sufficient number of 

 these Horses could be obtained to make a proper 

 selection for breeding from, it is impossible to say 

 to what degree of excellence they might in time 

 be raised. In the island of Mull, one of the 

 Hebrides, some remains of them are still to be 

 found, though they are so much neglected as to be 

 fast degenerating, by intermixture with other in- 

 finitely less useful breeds. 



THE SHELTIES. 



The Shetland Islands produce a small race of 

 Horses called Shelties, which, although their size 

 is exceedingly diminutive, are in other respects 



highly 



